German city to seize empty commercial space for refugees

The northern German city of Hamburg has passed a law allowing it to requisition empty commercial properties to house asylum seekers, authorities said Friday.

"The parliament of the city of Hamburg adopted the law yesterday," said city spokesman Ulfert Kaphengst.

Private apartments are not affected.

Like the rest of the country, Germany's second city Hamburg has been struggling to find lodgings for the record influx of migrants.

As favoured destination for many of those arriving in Europe, Germany is expecting up to a million migrants this year.

Some local authorities have been forced to put up tent cities to host the newcomers, but with winter swiftly arriving, they are urgently seeking alternative solutions to deal with the influx.

Berlin has already adopted such a measure allowing the forced seizure of commercial buildings.

In Hamburg, the opposition have condemned the initiative, branding it a violation of property rights.